catch dinner and a show at Framer’s Theater. It’s opening night and Delphi figured Jonquil shouldn’t have to go alone.” He sat on the edge of Gage’s desk and picked up the Newton’s cradle sitting on the desk. He lifted the ball on the end and watched them all start their perpetual motion thing.
Gage ignored it and considered what Jeremy was suggesting. “You want me to go as her date? Because you know we’re not going to end up like you and Delphi.” He’d established that with both of them, right?
Jeremy’s lip twitched slightly, but then his expression returned to the too-casual, bland expression he’d worn when he entered. “I didn’t say anything about a date. There are a bunch of us going. You can join us if you don’t have other plans.”
Gage thought about what Jonquil would read into it. What Angela would think—if he showed up on opening night, would she think it was because of her? And did he want to spend his evening watching people sing and dance on stage?
Then he thought of how much fun he’d had with Jonquil the previous day. “Just a bunch of us. This is a non-date?” he asked carefully.
“Absolutely. Delphi and I will swing by and pick you up in,” he paused to check his watch, “an hour or so. We got tickets for everyone in the group and that includes dinner. I hear they grill a good steak.”
“There’s that. Count me in. But I’ll meet you there instead.” Gage watched Jeremy saunter back out of his office, then reached out and stopped the tapping of the balls on the desk. He’d have a good steak, survive an evening of song and dance and… at least he wouldn’t be alone.
An hour later he pulled in front of the theater. He had changed into a green polo and a pair of chinos, fixed his hair and dabbed on some aftershave—despite not having shaved for a couple of days. He had considered just wearing the jeans and tee he’d sported all day, but figured dinner theater should be slightly nicer, right? It wasn’t like he was trying to make a good impression on Jonquil or anything.
He got out of the car and saw Jeremy’s car sitting under a nearby street light. At least he wouldn’t be the first one in.
The theater was an old log building that had been housing theatrical productions since the early nineteen-forties, though it was rarely used during the spring or fall. The building had been empty most of Gage’s childhood but had been purchased by a couple from New York City six or seven years earlier, refurbished, and turned into a dinner theater. They’d been doing a solid business ever since, from what Gage had heard.
Twinkle lights glittered on the rope that bordered each side of the sidewalk, and the round white lights surrounding the marquee proclaimed the name of the show, dates and times of performances and a number to call the box office.
When he entered, he found Jeremy and Delphi, Blake and Lana and Jonquil. He managed not to frown as she turned to smile at him. Not a date, just a group of friends? He lifted his brows at Jeremy, who met his eye and smirked a little, then said something to Delphi.
Delphi turned. “Great, you’re here. Then we can be seated.”
Jonquil smiled at him as he came to stand beside her—where an opening in their circle magically appeared upon his arrival. “I didn’t think you’d bite. Theater doesn’t seem like your thing.”
“It’s not, normally. But a little culture probably won’t kill me. And your sister deserves some support on opening night, right?” That hadn’t been a motivator at all, but he threw it into the mix since it occurred to him.
She nodded, though she didn’t seem as enthusiastic as a moment ago. “I hear the steaks are great, too.”
“Yeah, that’s the rumor. Always a plus.” He was glad when a young man gestured for them to follow him into the theater. Gage grabbed Jeremy’s arm and held him so the rest of them went first. “Dude, just a group, huh?”
“Six is a group.” Jeremy
Gage ignored it and considered what Jeremy was suggesting. “You want me to go as her date? Because you know we’re not going to end up like you and Delphi.” He’d established that with both of them, right?
Jeremy’s lip twitched slightly, but then his expression returned to the too-casual, bland expression he’d worn when he entered. “I didn’t say anything about a date. There are a bunch of us going. You can join us if you don’t have other plans.”
Gage thought about what Jonquil would read into it. What Angela would think—if he showed up on opening night, would she think it was because of her? And did he want to spend his evening watching people sing and dance on stage?
Then he thought of how much fun he’d had with Jonquil the previous day. “Just a bunch of us. This is a non-date?” he asked carefully.
“Absolutely. Delphi and I will swing by and pick you up in,” he paused to check his watch, “an hour or so. We got tickets for everyone in the group and that includes dinner. I hear they grill a good steak.”
“There’s that. Count me in. But I’ll meet you there instead.” Gage watched Jeremy saunter back out of his office, then reached out and stopped the tapping of the balls on the desk. He’d have a good steak, survive an evening of song and dance and… at least he wouldn’t be alone.
An hour later he pulled in front of the theater. He had changed into a green polo and a pair of chinos, fixed his hair and dabbed on some aftershave—despite not having shaved for a couple of days. He had considered just wearing the jeans and tee he’d sported all day, but figured dinner theater should be slightly nicer, right? It wasn’t like he was trying to make a good impression on Jonquil or anything.
He got out of the car and saw Jeremy’s car sitting under a nearby street light. At least he wouldn’t be the first one in.
The theater was an old log building that had been housing theatrical productions since the early nineteen-forties, though it was rarely used during the spring or fall. The building had been empty most of Gage’s childhood but had been purchased by a couple from New York City six or seven years earlier, refurbished, and turned into a dinner theater. They’d been doing a solid business ever since, from what Gage had heard.
Twinkle lights glittered on the rope that bordered each side of the sidewalk, and the round white lights surrounding the marquee proclaimed the name of the show, dates and times of performances and a number to call the box office.
When he entered, he found Jeremy and Delphi, Blake and Lana and Jonquil. He managed not to frown as she turned to smile at him. Not a date, just a group of friends? He lifted his brows at Jeremy, who met his eye and smirked a little, then said something to Delphi.
Delphi turned. “Great, you’re here. Then we can be seated.”
Jonquil smiled at him as he came to stand beside her—where an opening in their circle magically appeared upon his arrival. “I didn’t think you’d bite. Theater doesn’t seem like your thing.”
“It’s not, normally. But a little culture probably won’t kill me. And your sister deserves some support on opening night, right?” That hadn’t been a motivator at all, but he threw it into the mix since it occurred to him.
She nodded, though she didn’t seem as enthusiastic as a moment ago. “I hear the steaks are great, too.”
“Yeah, that’s the rumor. Always a plus.” He was glad when a young man gestured for them to follow him into the theater. Gage grabbed Jeremy’s arm and held him so the rest of them went first. “Dude, just a group, huh?”
“Six is a group.” Jeremy
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